by Maj. Lynelle Clark
Joint Public Affairs Support Element-Reserve
NORFOLK, Va. - Working in an "all blue" force is becoming a thing of the past. Joint operations are the future of the military, and a joint assignment is a must for people who aspire to wear stars on their shoulders.
It's also a great opportunity for Airmen of any rank to learn more about their service brothers and sisters, and the 953rd Reserve Support Squadron here is one pathway to make that assignment happen for Air Force reservists.
The 953rd RSPTS is the Air Force element of the Joint Reserve Unit for U.S. Joint Forces Command. The JRU integrates the components of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard Reserve and Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The squadron is a gateway for Air Force reservists to serve in a joint role under USJFCOM, the transformation leader of the U.S. military.
When Air Force Reserve Col. Michael Pierce took command of the 953rd RSPTS in April 2006, he summed up the relationship:
"We are a part of two great teams - the Air Force Reserve Command and USJFCOM - within the best military in the world," he said. "As a team, we will meet the challenges, mitigate uncertainties and be successful in our mission."
The mission for members of the 953rd RSPTS is to fill the needs and requirements of USJFCOM, whether it's supporting exercises and contingencies or providing staff support to combatant commanders. They work for various directorates throughout USJFCOM from exercise planning and training to operations, communications, medical and much more.
Many of the reservists prefer the flexible work schedule offered, rather than a strict one weekend a month, two weeks a year schedule, though there are mandatory drills in May and November.
"Being flexible and working on some weekdays with our active-duty counterparts allows for a successful interface between the active and reserve components here," said Maj. Heidi Heinlein, a 953rd RSPTS member. "It's great to be part of an ongoing day-to-day mission and to feel like you are an integral part of the mission accomplishment."
Reservists have a lot to offer their active-duty counterparts, according to Maj. Gen. William Rajczak, deputy director for the Joint Requirements and Integration Directorate at USJFCOM and the senior Air Force reservist, currently recalled to active duty.
"Reservists bring a very varied and broad civilian skill set that active-duty members don't have available to them," said the general. "Reservists are doing civilian jobs that enhance their military skills and can provide wisdom, direction and training to their active-duty counterpart."
He added that the major challenge in the joint world is adapting to the diverse organizations and cultures of coalition, multinational and interagency forces. Adapting is easier for reservists who deal with diverse cultures in their normal dealings of balancing civilian and military duties.
On the flip side, reservists can derive a great amount of benefit from broad exposure to joint operations, Rajczak said. Reserve duty in the joint world is almost entirely operational and involves very little training compared to a unit job. That means a reservist's participation will be greater and more background work will have to be done individually to be ready to go and to benefit from an operational experience, he said.
"This is an opportunity to extend knowledge and experience and to distinguish yourself from others ... to be the best Air Force reservist you can be," Rajczak added.